Lighter comprising safety mechanism

ABSTRACT

A lighter includes a device generating a flame whereof one part called actuator is mobile along a longitudinal axis between a neutral position, wherein the device cannot generate a flame, and an active position, wherein the device can generate a flame, and a safety mechanism mobile between a locked position, wherein the safety mechanism locks the actuator in its neutral position and a released position allowing the actuator to move toward its active position. The safety mechanism includes a safety member having a part which, when the safety mechanism is in the locked position, is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator in the direction thereof so as to be arranged against a stop and, when the safety mechanism is in released position, is arranged facing a housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lighter comprising a flame generation devicewhereof an actuator portion is mobile along a longitudinal axis betweena rest position, wherein the device cannot generate a flame, and anactive position wherein the device can generate a flame, and a safetymechanism mobile between a locked position wherein the safety mechanismblocks the actuator in its rest position and an unlocked positionenabling the actuator to move towards its active position.

In this type of lighter, a safety mechanism is present to preventunintended persons, such as children, from using the lighter andigniting a flame, thereby risking injury to themselves or to otherpersons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

A lighter of the type described above wherein the safety mechanism is asafety member having a downwardly directed vertical portion andcooperating with a vertical abutment joined to the lighter when thesafety mechanism is in its locked position, is shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,145,358.

To go from the locked position to the unlocked position when the lighteris placed in a vertical position, the user must cause horizontalmovement of the safety member, thereby separating it from the abutment,and at the end of its movement, must depress the actuator vertically toinitiate the phenomenon of flame generation.

A lighter comprising a flame generation device and a safety mechanism isalso known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,448.

The flame generation device comprises an actuator portion which ismobile between a rest position wherein the device cannot generate aflame and an active position wherein the device can generate a flame.

The safety mechanism of this lighter is an integral part of the actuatorand has a projecting portion which cooperates with an abutment of thelighter in order to block the actuator when it is subjected to a typicalforce which any user employs to operate the lighter.

This force is aligned with an axis corresponding to that of theactuator.

The teaching of this patent indicates that to release the actuator, itmust be tilted rearward and hence, simultaneously, the safety mechanismattached thereto, in order to separate the projecting portion of thesafety mechanism from the abutment of the lighter.

An axial thrust force must then be applied in a known manner to theactuator to operate the lighter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the view of the documents cited above, the present invention seeks tofind a new lighter striking a good compromise between itsuser-friendliness for a normal user and its difficulty of use by anunauthorized user.

The present invention therefore proposes a lighter comprising a flamegeneration device whereof an actuator portion is mobile along alongitudinal axis between a rest position, wherein the device cannotgenerate a flame, and an active position, wherein the device cangenerate a flame and, a safety mechanism mobile between a lockedposition wherein the safety mechanism blocks the actuator in its restposition and an unlocked position enabling the actuator to move towardits active position, wherein the safety mechanism comprising a safetymember having an active portion which, in the locked position of thesafety mechanism, is tilted towards the actuator with respect to thelongitudinal axis ZZ′ of the actuator so as to be disposed against anabutment and, in the unlocked position of the safety mechanism, isdisposed facing a housing.

The present invention hence proposes a lighter safety mechanism of anovel design which provides increased safety with respect to anunauthorized user of the lighter.

The lighter safety mechanism according to the invention offers theadvantage of being simpler to implement than that of the lighterdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,448 because it only provides for thepivoting motion solely of the safety mechanism about the actuator, andnot the tilting movement of the entire actuator, as in the patent cited.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, to change position,the active portion of the safety member pivots with respect to theactuator while moving away from it.

Thus the movement to perform the unlocking of the safety mechanism isparticularly simple to implement for the authorized user of the lighterknowing how to use it.

According to one feature of the invention, the safety member comprises abearing portion which is adapted, under the action of a first force, tomake a pivoting motion towards one end of the actuator to which a secondforce is applied to displace the actuator from its rest position towardsits active position, the bearing portion being arranged at the level ofthe end of the actuator.

Thus, when the safety mechanism has been displaced from its lockedposition to its unlocked position by applying the first force, thebearing portion being disposed at the level of the end of the actuator,the user then merely needs to apply the second force naturally to theend of the actuator to displace it from its rest position to its activeposition.

At the end of the pivoting motion, when the safety mechanism is in theunlocked position, the first force is applied to the bearing portion ina direction forming an angle less than 90° with another direction alongwhich the second force is applied to the end of the actuator.

Thus, at the end of the unlocking movement of the safety mechanism, theforce applied by the user to terminate this movement is not, asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,358, perpendicular to the otherdirection along which the second force is applied to the end of theactuator to conventionally operate the lighter, but, on the contrary,makes an angle less than 90° with it, thereby facilitating thecoordination of the two movements and naturally guiding the user in thesecond movement.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the pivoting motion of the safetymember proposed according to the invention is more difficult to achievefor an unauthorized user of the lighter, such as a child, than a simpletranslation motion, as provided in the lighter of U.S. Pat. No.5,145,358.

In fact, an unauthorized user such as a child could inadvertently usethe lighter of U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,358 by pressing its finger atdifferent places on the grooved portion of the end of the actuator whichis a non-negligible surface area if the force it applies to this portionis inadvertently oblique and not perpendicular thereto.

On the contrary, to cause a pivoting motion of the safety member of thelighter according to the invention, it is necessary, by definition, topivot this member and thereby locate the pivot about which the movementis made.

Such a movement is hence theoretically more difficult to execute than asimple translation motion and, in all likelihood, a pivoting motion ismore rarely applied unintentionally than a translation motion similar tothe one described herein.

According to one feature, the pivoting motion is executed about an axis.

According to one feature, the safety member pivots about an axisperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of movement of the actuator.

According to one feature, the safety member is elastically maintained inits locked position.

According to another feature, the safety member comprises the bearingportion whose pivotal movement has an amplitude corresponding to theangle of tilt formed between the active portion and the longitudinalaxis of the actuator.

According to one feature, the housing is elongated along an axisparallel to the longitudinal axis of displacement of the actuator suchthat, in the unlocked position of the safety mechanism, the activeportion of the safety member engages in the housing when the actuatorpasses from its rest position to its active position.

According to another feature, the active portion of the safety memberforms a flange.

According to one feature, the actuator comprises a cap to which a forceis applied for displacing the actuator from its rest position to itsactive position, the safety member being arranged at the level of thecap.

According to a first and a second embodiment of the invention, thesafety member forms at least one component mounted on the actuator.

More particularly, the safety member forms at least one element mountedon the cap of the actuator.

Advantageously, the addition of a safety member to the actuator does notput into question the entire design of the actuator.

According to a feature of the first and second embodiment, the safetymember is fixed to the actuator via its pivotal axis.

This represents a particularly simple and effective means to fix thesafety member.

According to a feature related to the first and second embodiment of theinvention, the safety member comprises the bearing portion which isarranged around the pivotal axis.

According to a feature related to the first two embodiments of theinvention, the flange of the safety member is attached to the bearingportion.

According to a feature related to the first two embodiments, the safetymember comprises an inactive portion which is maintained in positionwith respect to the actuator.

The inactive portion does not participate in the pivoting motion of thesafety member but, on the contrary, serves as a support point for themember during the pivoting motion and thereby limits the amplitude ofthe motion. The inactive portion is, for example, blocked by theactuator.

According to a feature of the first embodiment of the invention, thesafety member comprises a spring having a central portion arrangedinside the bearing portion of the member and around the pivotal axis andtwo end portions, one extending along the flange and the other mergingwith the inactive portion maintained in position with respect to theactuator.

This makes it possible to achieve a limited elastic deformation of thesafety member during the pivoting motion.

According to a feature of the second embodiment, the inactive portionmaintained in position with respect to the actuator is a flange whichhas a reduced thickness compared with the thickness of the bearingportion of the safety member.

This feature also makes it possible to achieve a limited elasticdeformation of the safety member during the pivoting motion.

According to a feature related to the first two embodiments, the activeand inactive portions of the safety member form between one another anangle less than 90° when the safety mechanism is in the locked position.

According to another feature of the first two embodiments of theinvention, the bearing portion of the safety member is grooved and/orcomprises a boss to facilitate its manipulation by a user of thelighter.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, the safety memberforms one and the same member with the actuator.

In particular, the safety member forms one and the same member with thecap, which does not require reviewing the entire design of the actuator.

According to a feature related to the previous one, the safety member isconnected to the actuator via an arm.

According to one feature related to the previous one, this arm has acurved general shape which acts as a hinge for the pivoting motion ofthe safety member.

According to a feature related to this third embodiment, the pivotalaxis is placed at the level of the arm.

According to another feature related to this third embodiment, thesafety member comprises an actuating head at least partially forming thebearing portion to which the force is applied to execute the pivotingmotion and the flange forming the active portion of the member.

In particular, the actuating head and flange confer on the safety membera general T-shape having a leg that is formed of the flange.

According to another feature related to this third embodiment of theinvention, a space is provided between the actuating head and theactuator.

This space enables the actuating head to be displaced during thepivoting motion of the safety member towards its unlocked position,while limiting the displacement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages will appear in the following description,which is given only by way of non-limiting example and made withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighter according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2a is a partial longitudinal section view of a lighter according toa first embodiment of the invention, in a first position;

FIG. 2b is a view of the lighter of FIG. 2a in a second position;

FIG. 2c is a view of the lighter of FIG. 2a in a third position;

FIG. 2d is a view of the lighter in a position identical to the firstposition;

FIG. 3a is a view of a safety member used in the lighter of FIG. 2a andincorporating a spring;

FIG. 3b is a view of the spring used in the safety member of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 3c is a partial perspective schematic view of the upper portion ofthe lighter of FIGS. 1 and 2a;

FIG. 4a is a view of a lighter according to a second embodiment of theinvention, placed in a first position;

FIG. 4b is a perspective view of a safety member used in the lighter ofFIG. 4a;

FIG. 4c is a view of the lighter of FIG. 4a in a second position;

FIG. 4d is a view of the lighter of FIG. 4a in a third position;

FIG. 4e is a view of the lighter in a position identical to the firstposition;

FIG. 5a is a partial schematic view of a lighter according to a thirdembodiment of the invention, placed in a first position;

FIG. 5b is a partial plan view of the lighter of FIG. 5a;

FIG. 5c is a view of the lighter of FIG. 5a in a second position;

FIG. 5d is a view of the lighter of FIG. 5a in a third position;

FIG. 5e is a schematic view of a variant embodiment of the lighter shownin FIG. 5a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1 and denoted by the general reference 10, a lighteraccording to the invention comprises a body 12 of elongated generalform, a flame generation device comprising an actuator 14 whereof onlyone portion is shown in this figure.

The portion of the actuator shown in FIG. 1 represents an end 14 a ofthe actuator which is provided with a cap 16 whereto the user of thelighter must apply a downward force, along the longitudinal axis of thelighter ZZ′, to displace the actuator within the body 12.

The lighter also comprises a member 18 forming a wind guard to protectthe flame generated by the lighter.

The lighter in FIG. 1 is partially shown in a schematic longitudinalsection in FIG. 2a.

As stated above, the lighter comprises a flame generation device whichis known to one skilled in the art and which comprises in particular thebody of the actuator 14 equipped at the end 14 a with cap 16.

This cap is considered as forming part of the actuator.

The flame generation device also comprises a gas jet release member 20,such as a nozzle connected to a gas filled reservoir and not shown inthe figures.

The flame generation device also comprises a member 22 resting on apivot 24 and forming a lever.

Member 22 has two ends each of which is in contact respectively with theactuator and the gas jet release member.

The lighter of the invention operates according to the known principleof the piezoelectric effect in which a piezoelectric element, such as acrystal, is struck by a member forming a hammer to produce an electricspark.

The end of the actuator 14 opposite end 14 a and which is not shown inthe figures forms a hammer which strikes a piezoelectric element whenthe actuator is displaced by a force applied by the user's finger to cap16, from a rest position, shown in FIG. 2a, wherein the flame generationdevice cannot generate a flame, to a active position, shown in FIG. 2c,and wherein the device can generate a flame.

The flame generation device further comprises an electrical conductor 26whereby a spark generated by the aforementioned piezoelectric mechanismis propagated.

The electrical conductor 26 is electrically connected to thepiezoelectric mechanism by one of its ends in a known manner.

The electrical conductor 26 terminates at its opposite end in acombustion chamber 27 wherein the aforementioned gas jet release member20 also terminates.

During the movement of the actuator shown by its extreme positions inFIGS. 2a and 2 c, member 22 forming a lever pivots about its supportpoint 24 when the actuator applies a pressure to the end thereof,permitting upward displacement of the nozzle of the gas jet releasemember and thereby the release of the gas.

As shown in FIG. 2c, in the upper position, the nozzle is at the heightof the end of the electrical conductor 26 via which the spark exits,thereby permitting the generation of a flame.

The above description relates to the three embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 5 and will therefore not be repeated in the description ofeach new embodiment.

FIGS. 2a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 3 a, 3 b and 3 c more particularly illustrate afirst embodiment of a lighter according to the invention.

The lighter according to this first embodiment of the inventioncomprises a safety mechanism denoted 30 in FIG. 2a which is mobilebetween two positions shown respectively in FIGS. 2a and 2 b and towhich we shall subsequently return.

The safety mechanism 30 comprises a safety member 32 which cooperateswith an abutment 34 joined to the lighter.

The abutment 34 is in the form of a groove made in the upper end of awall 36 of the lighter along which the actuator 14 is arranged.

This groove is generally V-shaped with an upward directed opening andwhich is slightly tilted to the longitudinal direction ZZ′ so that oneof the sides of the V is aligned with this direction.

The tilt of the V thereby serves to release the safety member from itsabutment whenever necessary.

It should be noted that the abutment 34 could also be in the form of aflat horizontal portion.

The lighter further comprises a wall 38 visible from the exterior of thelighter, which is arranged facing wall 36 and at some distancetherefrom, thereby arranging between the parallel walls a housing whichis elongated along an axis parallel to longitudinal axis ZZ′.

Safety member 32 which is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3a, 3 b and 3c, comprises an essentially cylindrical bearing portion 40 which isarranged around a pivotal axis 42.

As shown in FIGS. 2a to 2 d, the bearing portion 40 of the safety memberis arranged at the level of the end 14 a of actuator 14 and, moreparticularly, of the cap 16 thereof.

As shown in FIG. 3c, cap 16 comprises two arms 16 a and 16 b arranging aspace between themselves to receive the bearing portion 40 of the safetymember.

Arms 16 a and 16 b respectively comprise an orifice passing through themto receive axis 42 of the safety member.

This axis 42 acts as a pivotal axis for the movement of the safetymember between the positions shown in FIGS. 2a and 2 b.

Axis 42 is arranged perpendicular to longitudinal axes ZZ′.

Thus safety member 32 is fixed to the cap of the actuator via its axis42.

As shown in FIGS. 2a and 3 a, bearing portion 40 is grooved tofacilitate the gripping movement applied by the user of the lighter tothis portion.

Furthermore, in addition to the grooves, the bearing portion comprises aboss 44 which facilitates handling by the user.

However, it must be noted that the simultaneous presence of grooves anda boss or of any other means to facilitate the handling of the safetymember by the user is not mandatory, and that a single one of thesemeans can suffice.

As shown in FIGS. 2a and 3 a, the safety member comprises an activeportion which, for example, is in the form of a flange 46 attached tothe bearing portion 40 and essentially planar in shape.

When the safety member is in the position shown in FIG. 2a correspondingto the locked position of the safety mechanism of the invention, theactive portion 46 of the safety member is disposed against abutment 34.

The active portion 46 of the safety member is tilted with respect to thelongitudinal axis ZZ′ towards the actuator 14.

In particular, the safety member comprises a spring 48 shown in FIG. 3bwhich has a central portion 48 a shown in the form of a coil spring, andtwo end portions 48 b and 48 c forming the ends of the spring, the endportion 48 c being shown in FIG. 3a.

The central portion 48 a of this spring is mounted about the pivotalaxis 42 inside the bearing portion 40 of the safety member and one ofthe end portions 48 b of the spring is arranged inside the activeportion 46 of the safety member in a recess 49 provided for the purpose,as shown in FIG. 2a.

The other end portion 48 c of the spring forms an inactive portion ofthe safety member and is arranged inside the cap 16 in a housing 50provided for the purpose (FIG. 2a).

As shown in FIG. 2a, the two end portions 48 b and 48 c of spring 48make an angle smaller than 90° between each other, according to thisside view.

The spring thereby applies a torsion force which resists any actiontending to separate its end portions 48 b and 48 c from one another toopen the angle between them.

When the spring is integrated in the safety member 32, as shown in FIGS.2a and 3 a, the torsion force applied by this spring forces the activeportion 46 to abut wall 36, thereby forcing the active portion 46 andinactive portion 48 c to make an angle smaller than 90° between oneanother.

The safety mechanism thereby formed, due to the force applied by thespring to the active portion 46 of the safety member 32, is elasticallymaintained in its locked position shown in FIG. 2a.

The safety member thereby formed makes a member which is mounted on theactuator.

Thus the presence of the safety member does not put into question theentire design of the actuator.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the safety member on the cap of theactuator is extremely simple to achieve.

When the safety mechanism is placed in the locked position, as shown inFIG. 2a, the active portion 46 is held in contact elastically with theabutment 34 in a tilted position with respect to the longitudinal axisZZ′ which is vertical in the drawings.

In this position, it is impossible for a user to displace actuator 14 byapplying a vertical or inclined force to cap 16 and hence it is notpossible to generate a flame.

An unintended user such as a child, for example, who tries to press oncap 16, therefore cannot succeed in generating a flame in the lighter.

Such an inclined arrangement of the active portion of the safety member,in the locked position of the safety mechanism, is particularlyadvantageous in relation to a vertical arrangement, since anunauthorized user pressing hard on the cap 16 and the safety memberwould be liable to unlock the safety mechanism by force if thearrangement of the active part were to be vertical.

Furthermore, with such a vertical arrangement of the active portion ofthe safety member, the risk of unlocking by force would be all thehigher if the unauthorized user exerted a force inclined with respect tothe vertical with more or less the same orientation as the active part.

Safety in relation to the unauthorized user is thus increased with thearrangement provided by the invention.

Given the fact that the safety member is in a position which isoff-centered in relation to the cap and particularly to the portion ofthe cap to which the force must be applied to generate a flame, thesafety mechanism of the invention is hence more reliable than those ofthe prior art discussed above.

It has been found that the forces applied to the cap of the lighter tocause its depression and hence to generate a flame are generally appliedalong longitudinal axis ZZ′ or along a direction tilted to the axis.

By following this observation, it proves that the safety mechanismproposed in the lighter described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,358 is lessreliable than the one of the present invention.

In fact, a force applied by an unintended user such as a child along adirection tilted to the longitudinal displacement axis of the actuatorcan permit the displacement of the grooved portion arranged on the capof the actuator and forming a lock, thereby unlocking the safetymechanism.

By contrast, according to the present invention, the applicant hastilted the active portion 46 of the safety member to the longitudinalaxis ZZ′ of the actuator in the direction of the actuator so that, evenunder the action of a force applied in an oblique direction tolongitudinal axis ZZ′, the active portion of the safety member remainsdisposed against abutment 34, thereby keeping the flame generationdevice blocked.

To unlock the safety mechanism 30 according to the invention, it isnecessary to pivot safety member 32 about the pivotal axis 42 toseparate the active portion 46 of the safety member from the abutmentand the lighter and to bring it to face housing 37.

The active portion 46 of the safety member pivots in the oppositedirection to the moment forced by the user on the bearing portion 40 ofthat member and which is shown by arrow F1 in FIG. 2a.

The pivoting motion of the safety member is made independently of themovement of the actuator, which remains immobile during the displacementof the safety member.

The displacement of the safety mechanism from the locked position inFIG. 2a to the unlocked position in FIG. 2b is achieved by the user ofthe lighter by applying a tangential force to the bearing portion 40 ofsafety member 32, in order to rotate it about pivotal axis 42, the forcebeing applied towards the cap of the actuator.

The movement applied by the user is facilitated by the presence of agrooved surface on the bearing portion 40 and of the boss 44 of thebearing portion.

As shown in FIG. 2a, the thrust force applied by the authorized user isshown by arrow F1 which is initially disposed at least horizontally, infact the user from the outset being able to apply to the bearing portionof safety member 32 a force in a direction slightly tilted to thehorizontal.

As shown in FIG. 2b, when the pivoting motion of the safety member hasbeen completed in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 2a, the force F1applied by the user to the bearing portion of the safety member and, inparticular, to the boss 44 thereof, is applied along an axis forming aneven greater tilt than previously to the horizontal, therebyfacilitating the application of a second force F2 applied alonglongitudinal direction ZZ′ to displace the actuator from its restposition to its active position, as shown in FIGS. 2b and 2 c.

The fact that the directions of application of forces F1 and F2 (FIG.2b) make an angle α between one another less than 90° furtherfacilitates the coordination of the two forces.

It should be observed that when the initial force applied by the user topivot the safety member about its axis is not horizontal but already hasa certain tilt to the horizontal, force F₁ applied by the user to thesafety member, as shown in FIG. 2b, makes an even smaller angle α to thelongitudinal direction (axis ZZ′) of displacement of the actuator,thereby facilitating the use of the lighter.

As shown in FIG. 2b and indicated above, in the unlocked position, theactive portion 46 of safety member 32 is vertically disposed facinghousing 37 and, under the effect of the second force denoted F2 in FIG.2c, engages in the housing.

It must be observed that the pivoting motion of safety member 32 has anamplitude which corresponds to the angle made by the active portion ofthe member with the longitudinal displacement axis of the actuator.

The amplitude of this motion is preferably small to avoid making thelighter too difficult to use by the intended user.

As shown in FIG. 2d, when the user stops applying a force F₂ to cap 16of the actuator, the actuator is returned to its initial rest positionidentical to that shown in FIG. 2a under the action of a spring notshown in the figures and known in this type of lighter and which hasbeen compressed during the displacement of the actuator between FIGS. 2band 2 c.

During this upward motion, the active portion 46 of the safety memberrises inside housing 37 and, when it exits therefrom, is then subject tothe sole action of spring 48, thereby bringing it again into an inclinedposition against abutment 34.

The safety mechanism is thereby returned to its locked position whereinthe flame generation device is blocked.

FIGS. 4a to 4 e illustrate a second embodiment of a lighter according tothe invention.

It should be recalled that the items described with reference to FIG. 2ato second, except for cap 16 and the safety member 32, remain the sameand keep the same reference numbers as those of the figures.

In fact, in this second embodiment, only the structures of the cap andthe safety member are modified in comparison with those of the firstembodiment.

According to this second embodiment, the lighter 60 further comprises asafety mechanism 62 comprising a safety member 64 cooperating with anabutment joined to the lighter.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 4b, safety member 64 comprises abearing portion 66 whose function is similar to that of bearing portion40 in FIG. 3a and which is arranged about a pivotal axis 68.

This pivotal axis connects safety member 64 to cap 70 in the same way assafety member 32 in FIGS. 3a to 3 c.

Safety member 64 also comprises two portions, one, active, denoted 72,adapted to comes against the abutment 34 when the safety member is inthe locked position, as shown in FIG. 4a, and an inactive portion 74which is adapted to be positioned between cap 70 of the actuator and thebody of the actuator.

In a similar manner as described for safety member 32 shown in FIGS. 2and 3, safety member 64 comprises a bearing portion 66 arranged aboutthe pivotal axis 68, the active portion 72 being in the form of a flangeattached to the bearing portion 66, and the inactive portion 74 alsobeing in the form of a flange attached to bearing portion 66.

Bearing portion 66 is grooved and also comprises a boss 76 which isshown in FIGS. 4a and 4 b.

When the safety member is installed on the lighter, the safety member isfixed to the actuator via its pivotal axis 68 in the same way as thefixing of safety member 32 to actuator 14 as shown in FIG. 3c.

Furthermore, the inactive portion 74 of the safety member is heldpressed into a housing 78 provided between cap 70 and the body of theactuator 14 (FIG. 4a), in a position preventing its pivoting.

It must be observed that the flange forming the inactive portion 74 ofthe safety member has a reduced thickness in comparison with thethickness of the bearing portion 66 and of the other flange 72.

This difference in thickness confers a degree of elasticity on safetymember 34 enabling it to be deformed elastically, in a limited manner,during the pivoting motion about axis 68.

Note that when the safety member is installed on the lighter, the activeportion 72 and inactive portion 74 naturally make an angle smaller than90° between each other, in order to give the active portion 72 a tiltedposition with respect to the longitudinal axis ZZ′ when the safetymechanism is in the locked position.

In this position shown in FIG. 4a, safety mechanism 62 according to theinvention is in the locked position and active portion 72 of the safetymember is arranged in tilted position against abutment 34, which givesincreased safety with respect to unauthorized users according to theexplanations given above with reference to FIGS. 2a to 3 c.

In a similar manner to that described for the first embodiment, to gofrom the locked position of the safety mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4a,to the unlocked position thereof shown in FIG. 4c, the user of thelighter employs the boss 76 to cause the active portion of the safetymember 64 to pivot about its axis 68, thereby bringing active portion 72facing housing 37.

As stated above in reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the first embodiment ofthe invention, the tilt to the horizontal and to axis ZZ′ of the forceapplied by the user to the safety member at the end of the pivotingmotion makes it easy to coordinate this movement with the displacementof the actuator along axis ZZ′.

As shown in FIG. 4d, active portion 72 of the safety member engages inhousing 37 as the user applies a vertical downward pressure to actuator14.

When the pressure applied by the user to the actuator is released, theactuator rises under the action exerted by a spring not shown in thefigures and, on returning to its rest position, shown in FIG. 4c, thesafety member naturally returns to its locked position due to theelastic deformation it had undergone between the positions shown inFIGS. 4a and 4 c.

FIGS. 5a to 5 d show a third embodiment of the invention wherein thesafety member forms one and the same member with the actuator.

All the elements forming part of the lighter described in the first twoembodiments, but with the exception of the cap, the safety member andits abutment, are not modified in this embodiment and, when mentioned,retain the same numerals as previously.

As partially shown in FIG. 5a, the lighter according to a thirdembodiment identified by the general reference denoted 90, comprises anactuator 14 identical to the one shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, but with theexception of cap 92 of actuator 14.

In this embodiment, the lighter comprises a safety mechanism 94 with asafety member 96 that is an integral part of the actuator in the sensethat it is joined to the cap 92 via a curved arm 98.

Safety member 96 comprises two parts: an actuating head 100 and anactive portion 102 extending from head 100 and from arm 98 and forming aflange.

The arm has a general U-shape whereof the concavity is turned towardsactuating head 100.

This arm represents a sort of articulation of the safety member withrespect to cap 92 of the actuator.

Actuating head 100 and flange 102 confer on safety member 96 a generalT-shape where the head consists of the actuating head and which has aleg formed by the flange.

FIG. 5b shows the actuating head of the safety member in a plan view.

Safety member 96 and cap 92 are connected by curved arm 98 whereof thethickness is reduced in comparison with that of the rest of the safetymember to permit a limited elastic deformation of the arm during thepivoting motion of the safety member.

The pivoting motion takes place about an axis which is placed at thelevel of the arm.

Also provided is a space 104 between actuating head 100 and cap 92 ofthe actuator to permit the actuating head to move in the direction ofthe cap, during the pivoting motion of the safety member towards itsunlocked position.

However, it must be observed in FIG. 5b that cap 92, with respect to itsmedian axis XX′, has two portions forming a projection towards twoconcavities arranged in actuating head 100 and which are eachsymmetrical about the aforementioned median axis.

The cap further comprises two arms 101 and 103 provided at their freeends with two outwardly directed shoulders 101 a and 103 a.

The free ends of the arms provided with shoulders are engaged within theportion of the lighter surrounded by portion 18 in FIG. 1 and enable thecap to be connected to the rest of the lighter by virtue of theshoulders which bear against walls 105 a and 105 b of the lighterpartially represented by dashed lines in FIG. 5a. These ends alsofacilitate the guidance of the axial displacement of the cap.

Such arms also exist on the lighters shown in the earlier Figuresalthough they are not represented.

Space 104 is thus more particularly provided between each projectingportion 92 a (respectively 92 b) and the corresponding concavity 100 a(respectively 100 b) of the actuating head.

Safety member 96 comprises a bearing portion 100 c to which the user'sforce is applied, thereby permitting the safety member to make itspivoting motion.

In the representation thereof in the figures, the bearing portion isonly one portion of actuating head 100.

In FIG. 5a, the safety member is in its locked position wherein activeportion 102 of the member is arranged in a position inclined towards theactuator 14 with respect to the axis ZZ′ and in contact with an abutment106 provided in the upper portion of a wall 108 along which the a block111 is disposed in which the actuator 14 is arranged.

In this position, it is however unnecessary for active portion 102 to bein contact with abutment 106, the contact only occurring when theunauthorized user of the lighter applies a pressure to cap 92 todisplace the actuator downward.

It will be noted that the angle A formed by the active portion 102 withthe horizontal is less than 90° in FIG. 5a and that this arrangementgives the same advantages as those described with reference to the firsttwo embodiments.

The lighter further comprises another wall 110 disposed facing wall 108and thereby providing a housing 112 with it.

In a similar manner to that described for the first two embodiments ofthe invention, the pivoting motion of safety member 96 is obtained via afirst tangential force F1 applied by the intended user of the lighter ina direction forming a positive or zero angle with the horizontal, asshown by the arrow in FIG. 5a.

The user applies this force to the bearing portion 100 c of the safetymember.

When the user has applied this force until contact is obtained betweenthe projecting portions 92 a and 92 b and the respective concavities 100a and 100 b of the actuating head 100, any subsequent deformation ismade impossible due to the disappearance of the space 104 between cap 92and actuating head 100.

The user thereby knows that the safety mechanism is in the unlockedposition.

The active portion 102 forms an angle B with the horizontal which issubstantially equal to 90°.

In this position shown in FIG. 5c, the user is naturally guided in thefollowing movement which consists in pressing on cap 92 in the directionof force F2 of the axis ZZ′ in order to move the actuator downwardly.This is due to the fact that the direction of the first force F1 appliedby the user at the end of the pivoting motion (FIG. 5c) forms an angleless than 90° with the direction of the axis ZZ′.

It must be observed that the cap has a non-uniform thickness and whichis greater in its part disposed facing the actuating head, therebyforming a tilted plane as shown in the figures, to receive the user'sfinger.

Thus when the safety mechanism is in the unlocked position (FIG. 5c) andthe user applies a vertical force to lower the actuator within block111, active portion 102 of safety member 96 is arranged facing housing112, thereby enabling the safety member to engage therein progressivelywith the downward movement of the actuator, to come into abutment at theend of housing 112 when the actuator is in its active position (FIG.5d).

The return to the rest position of the actuator and to the lockedposition of the safety mechanism takes place, for the user, by releasingthe pressure applied to cap 92, as indicated for the first twoembodiments.

The lighter thereby returns to the position shown in FIG. 5a.

Note that it is advantageous in the three embodiments described aboveeither to fix or to consolidate the safety member with the actuator capand not the actuator body itself, or to have the safety member as acomponent mounted on the cap in order to simplify the manufacture of thelighter of the invention.

In fact, with a mechanism as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,448, theentire design of the actuator must be reviewed to install such a safetymechanism, complicating and thereby increasing the production cost ofthe lighter.

FIG. 5e shows a variant embodiment of the lighter shown in FIGS. 5a to 5d in which only the position of the safety member in abutment ismodified.

The lighter 118 comprises the actuator 14 and a block 119 in which theactuator is inserted and within which it may engage when it is displacedfrom its rest position to its active position.

A safety mechanism 120 comprises a safety member 112 which is jointed tothe cap 124.

The safety member comprises an actuating head 126 and an active portion128 which, in the locked position of the safety mechanism, is tiltedtowards the actuator 14 with respect to the longitudinal axis ZZ′ andwhich is provided on the upper portion 119 a of the block 119, insteadof resting on the top of the wall 106 of FIG. 2a.

More particularly, the active portion 128 is in contact with the upperportion 119 a of the block 119 via a portion which may be simply aportion of an edge (e.g. a ridge) of this active portion and with thevertical body of the actuator 14 via another portion of an edge.

These horizontal and vertical contacts which may be linear in the caseof ridges ensure that the active portion 128 is perfectly braced, thusenabling it to resist equally a vertical push and an oblique force.

It will thus be understood that it is not necessary for the portions ofthe active portion 128 which are in contact with the block 119 and theactuator 14 to have a large area of contact with them.

Furthermore, the provision of the active portion 128 at the upperportion 119 a of the block 119 rotor than on the top of the wall 106 ofFIG. 2a advantageously enables the bulkiness of the system within thelighter to be reduced.

The space 132 which the active portion 128 enters in the unlockedposition may thus be of reduced dimensions if the wall 106 of FIG. 2a isdispensed with.

Alternatively, if the dimensions of the space 132 are maintained whiledispensing with the wall 106 of FIG. 2a, it is possible to receive ablock 119 of greater size in the lighter.

Everything which has just been stated concerning the variant of FIG. 5ealso applies to the lighters shown in the other Figures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighter comprising: a flame generation device;an actuator mobile along a longitudinal axis between a rest position,wherein said device cannot generate a flame, and an active position,wherein said device can generate a flame; and a safety mechanism mobilebetween a locked position wherein said safety mechanism blocks theactuator in its rest position and an unlocked position enabling saidactuator to move toward its active position, the safety mechanismcomprising a safety member having an active portion, wherein, in thelocked position of the safety mechanism, the active portion is disposedagainst an abutment and is tilted towards the actuator with respect tothe longitudinal axis of said actuator and, in the unlocked position ofthe safety mechanism, said active portion is disposed facing a housing,and the safety member comprises a bearing portion which is adapted,under the action of a first force, to make a pivoting motion towards oneend of the actuator to which a second force is applied to displace saidactuator from its rest position towards its active position, saidbearing portion being arranged at a level of said end of the actuator.2. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein, to change position, theactive portion of the safety member pivots with respect to the actuatorwhile moving away from the actuator.
 3. A lighter according to claim 1,wherein the safety mechanism further comprises an elastic meansintegrated in the safety member and elastically maintaining the safetymember, in the locked position of the safety mechanism, so that theactive portion is disposed against the abutment and, in the unlockedposition of the safety mechanism, said active portion is disposed facingthe housing.
 4. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein, when the safetymechanism is in the unlocked position, the first force is applied to thebearing portion in a direction forming an angle less than 90° withanother direction along which the second force is applied to the end ofthe actuator.
 5. A lighter according to claim 3, wherein the safetymember comprises the bearing portion whose pivotal movement has anamplitude corresponding to an angle of tilt formed between the activeportion and the longitudinal axis of the actuator.
 6. A lighteraccording to claim 1, wherein the pivoting motion is executed about anaxis.
 7. A lighter according to claim 6, wherein the safety memberpivots about a pivotal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofmovement of the actuator.
 8. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein,the active portion of the safety member forms a flange, and the safetymember further comprises a spring having a central portion arrangedinside a bearing portion of said safety member and around a pivotalaxis, and two end portions, one end portion extending along the flangeand the other end portion merging with the inactive portion maintainedin position with respect to the actuator.
 9. A lighter according toclaim 1, wherein the housing is elongated along an axis parallel to thelongitudinal axis of displacement of the actuator such that, in theunlocked position of the safety mechanism, the active portion of thesafety member engages in said housing when the actuator passes from itsrest position to its active position.
 10. A lighter according to claim1, wherein the active portion of the safety member forms a flange.
 11. Alighter according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a cap towhich a force is applied for displacing said actuator from its restposition to its active position, the safety member being provided at alevel of said cap.
 12. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein thesafety member forms at least one component mounted on the actuator. 13.A lighter according to claim 12, wherein the safety member is fixed tothe actuator via a pivotal axis.
 14. A lighter according to claim 13,wherein the safety member comprises a bearing portion which is arrangedabout the pivotal axis.
 15. A lighter according to claim 14, wherein theflange of the safety member is mounted on the bearing portion.
 16. Alighter according to claim 1, wherein the safety member comprises aninactive portion which is maintained in position with respect to theactuator.
 17. A lighter according to claim 16, wherein the inactiveportion maintained in position with respect to the actuator is a flangewhich has a reduced thickness compared with a thickness of the bearingportion of the safety member.
 18. A lighter according to claim 16,wherein an angle formed between the active and inactive portions is lessthan 90° when the safety mechanism is in the locked position.
 19. Alighter according to claim 1, wherein the bearing portion of the safetymember is grooved.
 20. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein thebearing portion of the safety mechanism comprises a boss.
 21. A lighteraccording to claim 1, wherein the safety member forms one and the samemember with the actuator.
 22. A lighter according to claim 21, whereinthe safety member forms one and the same member with the cap.
 23. Alighter according to claim 22, wherein the safety member is connected tothe actuator via an arm.
 24. A lighter according to claim 23, whereinthe arm has a curved general shape.
 25. A lighter according to claim 24,wherein a pivotal axis is placed at the level of the arm.
 26. A lightercomprising: a flame generation device; an actuator mobile along alongitudinal axis between a rest position, wherein said device cannotgenerate a flame, and an active position, wherein said device cangenerate a flame; and a safety mechanism mobile between a lockedposition wherein said safety mechanism blocks the actuator in its restposition and an unlocked position enabling said actuator to move towardits active position, wherein the safety mechanism comprises a safetymember having an active portion which, in the locked position of thesafety mechanism, is tilted towards the actuator with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said actuator so as to be disposed against anabutment and, in the unlocked position of the safety mechanism, isdisposed facing a housing, the safety member comprises an inactiveportion which is maintained in position with respect to the actuator,the active portion of the safety member forms a flange, and the safetymember further comprises a spring having a central portion arrangedinside a bearing portion of said member and around a pivotal axis, andtwo end portions, one end portion extending along the flange and theother end portion merging with the inactive portion maintained inposition with respect to the actuator.
 27. A lighter comprising: a flamegeneration device; an actuator mobile along a longitudinal axis betweena rest position, wherein said device cannot generate a flame, and anactive position, wherein said device can generate a flame; and a safetymechanism mobile between a locked position wherein said safety mechanismblocks the actuator in its rest position and an unlocked positionenabling said actuator to move toward its active position, wherein thesafety mechanism comprises a safety member having an active portionwhich, in the locked position of the safety mechanism, is tilted towardsthe actuator with respect to the longitudinal axis of said actuator soas to be disposed against an abutment and, in the unlocked position ofthe safety mechanism, is disposed facing a housing, the safety memberforms one and the same member with the actuator, and the safety membercomprises an actuating head at least partially forming a bearing portionto which a force is applied to execute the pivoting motion and theflange forms the active portion of said member.
 28. A lighter accordingto claim 27, wherein the actuating head and flange confer on the safetymember a general T-shape having a leg that is formed of said flange. 29.A lighter according to claim 27, wherein a space is provided between theactuating head and the actuator.